It’s impossible to go through a season without injuries, and only the Cristiano Ronaldos of this world have the super-human ability to play football matches over and over again without eventually succumbing to injury.

In case you hadn't spotted this, Reading FC, for all its many good qualities, don’t have anything like the cash or the reputation to land such superstars.

And, as a result, have had for many years to rely on good old-fashioned squad players.

The thing about squad players is they tend to be used as back-up to the stars of the team, which of course means they're not as good.

It’s not that they’re rubbish, it’s just that they’re not the manager's first choice.

The term “average” springs to mind, not appallingly, spectacularly terrible, just not often producing match-winning moments of utter genius. Generally going about their jobs in an unremarkable way.

We’ve had a look at some of those squad players from the last 10 years, and come up with a team we think would set no pulses racing, but wouldn’t let anyone down either.

Goalkeeper

The former Arsenal reserve spent two years at Reading as a reserve reserve, providing back-up for Adam Federici and Alex McCarthy.

He played four games in his two seasons at the club and then left on a free after a spell on loan at Yeovil Town where he conceded an impressive no goals in no appearances.

He’s now without a club after being given a free transfer by Leeds United at the end of last season.

Taylor has played just 75 games for 11 different clubs in an 18-year-career.

Left back

A few choices here.

Marcus Williams: never really got going and came and went without ever really displaying his averageness. (so few were his appearances I can't even find a photo of him playing for Reading)

Marcus Williams (sliding)

The same with Joseph Mills.

Joseph Mills

But the left-back we think is most suited to the role in the “average” Reading side is none other than Dan Harding.

Dan Harding

Harding came to Reading on loan from Ipswich Town in 2009, played three times, failed to secure a move.

The 31-year-old has had a fairly decent career in the Championship and is a free agent after leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of last season.

To be honest, the three are pretty much interchangeable.

Right back

Shaun Cummings

Shaun Cummings.

One of Brendan Rodgers’ first signing for the club was West Brom defender Shaun Cummings.

Fans will probably remember the poor kid looked utterly paralysed by nerves on occasions in his early Royals career.

He did improve and became a useful squad player in his four years at Reading.

Never made the position his own, but did get a goal against Wigan in his 77 appearances for Royals.

Now at Millwall.

Centre Back

Darren O’Dea

A loan signing from Celtic who seemed to be quite exciting, probably due to the fact he played for Celtic.

O’Dea played in Brendan Rodgers famously chaotic Reading side, where players often looked like they’d been introduced in the car park before the game.

I remember he was left-footed, and that’s all.

Still just 28, O’Dea is now plying his trade in the Indian Super League for Mumbai City, after spells at Toronto City, Ukranian side FC Metalurh Donetsk, and, er, Blackpool.

He has 20 Republic of Ireland caps.

Centre Back

Michael Duberry

Michael Duberry

A signing made by Steve Coppell for Reading’s second season in the Premier League, “Doobs” makes the list for his ability only to be good at heading.

The former Leeds and Stoke central defender wasn’t quick, tall, good at tackling, good at marking, a goal threat and was utterly terrible on the occasions he had to pass the ball.

He was simply put on this earth to head a football.

Last seen playing for non-league Hendon in 2013, probably doing a lot of heading.

Right Wing

Paul Brooker

Paul Brooker

My mate always said Brooker was a player who looked much happier when he didn’t have the ball.

Signed initially on loan from Leicester under Steve Coppell, a couple of years before the glory days, Brooker then signed permanently in 2004.

A winger who often looked terrified if the ball came near him, he actually had a fair amount of ability, but looked to lack the belief to ever trust it.

Had a good half after coming on as a sub v Sunderland once, and that’s about it.

Left wing

Alex Smith

Alex Smith

I really struggled with this one, then I remembered a player so forgettable, I’d forgotten about him.

Alex Smith a left-winger/left back who came from Port Vale.

Scored a good free kick in a pre-season friendly against Charlton once, and was OK at taking corners.

Centre midfield

Brian Howard

Brian Howard

Fans might remember Howard producing inspiring captain’s performances for Barnsley against Liverpool and Chelsea in the FA Cup in 2008.

Howard played 59 games for Royals in a three-year spell.

He did play a lot alongside Gylfi Sigurdsson - one of Royals’ best ever - which might have dulled his exploits but you struggle to think of something, a pass, a shot, a goal, he did in his spell at the club.

He was often described as “hard-working” which is a term always used to describe iron-lunged central midfielders who run about a lot to very little end.

Centre midfield

Keith Jones

Keith Jones

The imaginatively nicknamed “Jonesy” became a target for the boo-boys at the club over his apparent lack of effort in midfield for the club.

It was a bit of an odd signing really, Alan Pardew bought Jones, in his younger days a combative midfielder for Charlton Athletic, to Reading at the ripe-old football age of 35.

He played for two seasons, making 29 appearances.

It can probably be argued his role was mainly to fill in the spaces left by the notoriously workshy Darren Caskey, who would’ve been his midfield partner at the time.

An average player pictured wearing a horrible kit.

Striker

Simon Church

Simon Church

Welsh international Church was a youngster who everyone at the club wanted to do well.

He was likable, and had come up through the ranks.

The problem was, though, he didn’t quite have it.

He was energetic, no doubt, and gave it his all, but didn’t really excel at any aspect of striker play, apart from running about.

He scored 22 goals in 104 appearances for Reading, around 1 in 5.

He’s recently been at Charlton and is now playing for Championship new boys MK Dons.

Striker

It was a tough call between Rasiak and Darius Henderson, but I remember the lumbering Henderson scoring some decent goals, and fondly remember Alan Pardew's bizarre tactic of sticking the slow, big, clumsy striker on the left wing.

Another one of Rodgers’ masterful signings, the big tall Pole was another described as “hard-working”, “honest” etc etc.